Easy Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting
These pumpkin bars feature a moist, dense batter flavored with pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon, baked in a 9x13 pan to yield a brownie-like texture. Topped with a creamy, smooth cream cheese frosting flavored with vanilla and lightly salted, they balance sweet and tangy notes. The bars serve as a seasonal dessert with comforting autumn flavors.
Ingredients
- 29 oz pumpkin canned pumpkin, puree
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 3 egg
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1-2 tsp salt if a hint of saltiness is a good thing to you, definitely add 2 tsp
Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese brick, not tub style cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1-2 tbsp heavy cream milk or half and half can be used
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, eggs and oil with an electric mixer until well combined.
- Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt to the wet ingredients and mix by hand until just combined.
- Pour batter into a 9x13" baking pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Bake for approximately 30-40 minutes. Bars should be starting to set up, but remember this is more like a brownie than a cake, it should seem a bit undercooked in the center, but not still be wet.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
Frosting
- Cream together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla and mix until combined.
- Add one cup of powdered sugar, and salt, and mix until well combined. Then add remaining powdered sugar and mix until well combined.
- Add in one tablespoon of cream and mix until well combined. If a slightly thinner texture is desired, add in additional tablespoon of cream and mix until combined.
- Spread frosting over bars. Slice and serve.
Notes
- Refrigerate bars after frosting to keep them fresh and maintain frosting texture.
- This recipe is designed for a 9x13 inch pan; using a jelly roll pan may alter baking results due to different dimensions.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 20 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 261kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 15% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 44mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 279mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 148mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 32g | 64% |
| Vitamin A | 6662IU | 133% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 42mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.